Shayne Ward - About You Now

Buy About You Now on Shayne's album Closer here (MPG Records)

It's been quite the year for Shayne Ward. He returned to the top twenty album charts with his sparkling fourth album Closer - an album of timeless yet contemporary classics orchestrated with music genius Mike Stock. He reminded us all what it is like to promote an album with actual singles that you can either download or physically purchase, proliferated with remixes, extra tracks and gorgeous accompanying videos (it was like the halcyon days of pop all over again - see Kylie, Jason, Steps, S Club, et al). He took pride in these single releases (My Heart Would Take You Back, The Way We Were, Moving Target) and ensured each release was done in a way that rewarded his sizeable army of fans - as well as designed (with integrity) to attract new followers. And, of course, he's now making the cobbles a much more handsome place thanks to his role in Coronation Street. This is why it is the perfect time to promote a final single from Closer - and what better track to bid for the festive number one than his stirring cover of Sugababes' About You Now. It's not a Christmas song per se, but there's something about this time of the year that makes music like this seem all the more poignant and beautiful. There was a brash exuberance to the Sugababes original - the song fueled by that excitement of realising your feelings for someone and sharing with them the radiant joy of the first flush of love. What Shayne and Mike do here is really clever and insightful - they stripped the songs back to the bare bones and really examined what the lyrics meant (and how they could be interpreted). Set to an achingly mellifluous piano refrain, Shayne seeks out the heartbreak in the narrative and imbues his emotive performance with a sense of melancholy and loss. He sings with the realisation of a man who's found love just that little too late and let it slip through his fingers. He has always been a great vocalist but this performance is one of my favourites by him. There's a little hope and optimism in the song, for who couldn't help but be wooed by Shayne's crooning? Absolutely exquisite - less of a cover and more of a complete re-interpretation that sits nicely alongside the musical cadence of his album. If you are not already familiar with this song, check it out now...